# Non-scientific information sources

As a student, in addition to peer-reviewed scientific literature, you will encounter other types of information that are essential for conducting research, writing papers, and developing your critical thinking skills as an academic. Learning to navigate this information landscape is crucial for locating, evaluating, and effectively using reliable and relevant sources.

Key sources of information during your studies and later career include:

Source | Description
--- | ---
Policy documents | Analysis and recommendations for policy based on research into a societal issue. Often written on behalf of governments and NGOs. Shows how research can be translated into practice. Often freely available online. Much Dutch policy research is accessible via the Netherlands Research Portal of OpenAIRE.
Professional literature | Written by and for professionals working in the field. The aim is to inform each other about current developments. An example of a professional journal for public administration is Harvard Business Review.
Newspapers | Newspapers provide current reporting on events. Written by journalists and checked by an editorial team. Easy to read. This information should also be critically evaluated: consider authority, timeliness, objectivity, and accuracy. For finding articles, you can use the newspaper database Nexis Uni.
Social media | Social media provide immediate reporting on and reactions to events. Whether social media are a useful source of information depends on the nature of your research project. Many scientists are active on social media and can be followed.
Working papers | Preliminary research reports that have not yet been peer-reviewed. Often produced by universities, research institutes, or think tanks to share early findings with the academic community. Useful for accessing cutting-edge research before formal publication. Frequently available online for free.

### The CRAAP Test is a method for evaluating sources for reliability and relevance.

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This image of CRAAP was developed by the University of Toronto Libraries (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US)